school

1 [countable]a place where children go to be educatedMy brother and I went to the same school.(formal)Which school do they attend?I'm going to the school today to talk to Kim's teacher.We need more money for roads, hospitals and schools.school buildingsGrammar Pointschool When a school is being referred to as an institution, you do not need to use the:When do the children finish school? When you are talking about a particular building, the is used:I’ll meet you outside the school.Prison, jail, court, and church work in the same way:Her husband spent three years in prison.note atcollege,hospitalSee related entries:Public spaces

2 [uncountable](used without the or a)the process of learning in a school; the time during your life when you go to a school(British English)to start/leave school(North American English)to start/quit schoolWhere did you go to school?(British English)All my kids are still at school.(North American English)All my kids are still in school.(North American English)to teach school(= teach in a school)The transition from school to work can be difficult.British/​Americanat / in school In British English somebody who is attending school is at school:I was at school with her sister. In North American Englishin school is used:I have a ten-year-old in school.In school in North American English can also mean ‘attending a university’.CollocationsEducationLearningacquire/​get/​lack (an) education/​training/(British English) (some) qualificationsreceive/​provide somebody with training/​tuitiondevelop/​design/​plan a curriculum/(especially British English) course/(North American English) program/​syllabusgive/​go to/​attend a class/​lesson/​lecture/​seminarhold/​run/​conduct a class/​seminar/​workshopsign up for/​take a course/​classes/​lessonsSchoolgo to/​start preschool/​kindergarten/​nursery schoolbe in the first, second, etc.(North American English) grade/(especially British English) year (at school)study/​take/​drop history/​chemistry/​German, etc.(British English)leave/​finish/​drop out of/(North American English)quit school(North American English)graduate high school/​collegeProblems at schoolbe the victim/​target of bullying(British English)play truant from/(both British English,informal)bunk off/​skive off school (= not go to school when you should)(both especially North American English)skip/​cut class/​school(British English)cheat in/(North American English)cheat on an exam/​a testget/​be given a detention (for doing something)be expelled from/​be suspended from schoolWork and examsdo your homework/(British English) revision/​a project on somethingwork on/​write/​do/​submit an essay/​a dissertation/​a thesis/​an assignment/(North American English) a paperfinish/​complete your dissertation/​thesis/​studies/​courseworkhand in/(North American English)turn in your homework/​essay/​assignment/​paperstudy/​prepare/(British English)revise/(North American English)review/(North American English,informal)cram for a test/​an examtake/(both British English)do/​sit a test/​an exam(especially British English)mark/(especially North American English)grade homework/​a test(British English)do well in/(North American English)do well on/(informal,especially North American English)ace a test/​an exampass/​fail/(informal,especially North American English)flunk a test/​an exam/​a class/​a course/​a subjectUniversityapply to/​get into/​go to/​start college/(British English) universityleave/​graduate from law school/​college/(British English) university (with a degree in computer science)study for/​take/(British English)do/​complete a law degree/​a degree in physics(both North American English)major/​minor in biology/​philosophyearn/​receive/​be awarded/​get/​have/​hold a master’s degree/​a bachelor’s degree/​a PhD in economics

3 [uncountable](used without the or a)the time during the day when children are working in a schoolShall I meet you after school today?School begins at 9.The kids are at/in school until 3.30.after-school activitiesSee related entries:School life

students and teachers

4 the school[singular]all the children or students and the teachers in a schoolI had to stand up in front of the whole school.

for particular skill

5 [countable](often in compounds)a place where people go to learn a particular subject or skilla drama/language/riding, etc. school

college/university

6 [countable,uncountable](North American English,informal)a college or university; the time that you spend therefamous schools like Yale and HarvardWhere did you go to school?see alsograduate schoolSee related entries:Higher education institutions

7 [countable]a department of a college or university that teaches a particular subjectthe business/medical/law schoolthe School of DentistrySee related entries:Higher education institutions

of writers/artists

8[countable]a group of writers, artists, etc. whose style of work or opinions have been influenced by the same person or ideasthe Dutch school of painting

of fish

9[countable]a large number of fish or other sea animals, swimming togethera school of dolphinscompareshoalThere are many compounds ending in school. You will find them at their place in the alphabet.See related entries:Groups of animals

, reinforced in Middle English by Old Frenchescole. nounsense 9late Middle English: from Middle Low German, Middle Dutchschōle, of West Germanic origin; related to Old Englishscolu

‘troop’

. Compare with shoal sense (1).Extra examplesAre the children still in school?Eric is off school again.He runs a karate school in San Jose, California.He was expelled from school for verbally abusing his teacher.His mum kept him off school for two weeks when he was ill.It is a failing school with some of the worst results in the city.It was just a typical school day.My parents let me stay home from school yesterday.She attends a special school for children with learning difficulties.She didn’t do very well at school.She teaches elementary school in Atlanta.She’s a middle-school teacher.She’s got four children of school age.The next day was Monday, a school day.Their son’s at the school near the station.We’re going to play football after school.You don’t need to keep your child home from school because of a cough.a range of after-school activitiesschool-age childrenthe cleverest child in the schoolAn announcement was made to the whole schoolHis parents went to the school to talk to his teacher.I’ll meet you outside the school.In Britain children start school when they are five.More money is needed for roads, hospitals and schools.My sister and I went to the same school.My younger son is still at school.She wants to go to drama school.The university has a school of dentistry.a language/​riding schoolan elementary/​a junior high/​a high schoolan infant/​a junior/​a primary/​a secondary schoolto teach schoolHe had very little schooling.Idioms

a way of thinking that a number of people shareThere are two schools of thought about how this illness should be treated.He belongs to the school of thought that says that competition can be very stimulating for children.